$(function() {
    var stack = [];
 
    // preload images home_3 - home_7 into an array
    for (var i = 3; i < 9; i++) {
        var img = new Image(800,450);
        img.src = 'images/home_' + i + '.jpg';
        if (img.complete)
            stack.push(img);
        else 
            $(img).bind('load', function() {
                stack.push(this);
            });
    } 
 
    // start slideshow
    $('#slideshow').cycle({
        timeout:  3000,
        before:   onBefore
    });
 
    // add images to slideshow
    function onBefore(curr, next, opts) {
        if (opts.addSlide) // <-- important!
            while(stack.length)
                opts.addSlide(stack.pop()); 
    };
});